A Wynk, a Blynk and a Nod to Books

A Wynk, a Blynk, and a Nod to Books about Spring
No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. There are many new books about spring and spring holidays that offer a welcome respite from the gloom of winter. So, while anticipating spring’s arrival, why not check out what’s blooming at the library.
New Books about Spring
And Then Another Sheep Turned Up by Laura Gehl, illus. by Amy Adele
Preparation and plans for a small family Passover seder are altered when the Sheep family of four is continually interrupted by unexpected guests. Kids will stay engaged with this rhyming, cumulative tale.

Bug Detective: Amazing Facts, Myths, and Quirks of Nature by Maggie Li
From butterflies to beetles to bees, this fact-filled guide encourages children to take a closer look at the insect world.

A Butterfly Called Hope by Mary Alice Monroe, photographs by Barbara J. Bergwerf
This book provides an excellent introduction to the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. Beautiful, full-color, up-close photographs accompany the text. Four pages of learning activities are also included. Free online resources are available from the publisher as well.

Butterfly Counting by Jerry Pallotta, illus. by Shennen Bersani
This unusual butterfly book introduces facts about the insects, portrays 24 different species, gives the word for “butterfly” in 27 languages other than English, and counts from zero to 25.

Click, Clack, Peep! by Doreen Cronin, illus. by Betsy Lewin
After a baby duck is born on the farm, the entire farm is disrupted as all the animals try to get the baby to sleep. This is another installment from the duo who gave us Click, Clack, Moo and Giggle, Giggle, Quack.

A Wynk, a Blynk, and a Nod to Books about Love and Valentine’s Day
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Books about love
Are waiting for you!
Children love Valentine’s Day, from making cards to giving kisses to eating sweets to planning a surprise or two. Many of our selected titles focus on friendship and affection as well as the holiday itself, so why not include a few books in your holiday celebration.

Giveaway: The Library has a Valentine themed basket to giveaway to one lucky reader. You have three chances to win. Be sure to do each entry separately for more chances to win. The deadline to enter is January 30 at noon. The winner will be announced on the Library Facebook page and have 24 hours to respond. How to enter:
1. Comment on the blog saying who you would share this basket with and why.
2. Tweet this post including @kentonlibrary and comment here that you did.
3. Share on Facebook tagging the Library Facebook page and comment here that you did.
Note: Library employees and those living in their household are not eligible to enter.

New Books about Love and Valentine’s Day
A Crankenstein Valentine by Samantha Berger, illus. by Dan Santat

An ordinary boy becomes a grumbling Crankenstein on the mushiest, yuckiest day of the year … until he meets someone just like him! The humorous illustrations include exaggerated expressions which match the size of Crankenstein’s emotions.

Did You Know that I Love You? by Christa Pierce

Little Bird expresses her love for Fox in this sweet picture book. The minimal rhyming text makes it a good choice for one-on-one sharing. This is the author/illustrator’s debut children’s book.

Foxy in Love by Emma Dodd

Foxy uses his magic to help Emily create the perfect card for the one she loves. Children […]

The holidays are right around the corner, and chances are you’re looking for great gift ideas. You’ve come to the right place. There’s nothing like a classic book, and this year there’s a bumper crop of beautiful new anniversary editions sure to make adults nostalgic and kids engaged.
Reissued Classics and Anniversary Editions
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Robinson’s classic story of the Herdman children first appeared in 1971. A picture book version is also available.

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

Originally published in 1964, The Book of Three is the first book in the Newbery Award winning fantasy series.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, illus. by Quentin Blake

Can Charlie Bucket really be fifty years old? Yes he is, and everyone can celebrate by reading this 50th anniversary edition printed on candy colored pages.

The Christmas Alphabet: Deluxe 20th Anniversary Edition by Robert Sabuda

This book launched Sabuda’s career in 1994. The anniversary edition of this famous pop-up classic is a joy to open.

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow

Included in this 25th anniversary edition is a free audio download, a “How to Draw a Monkey” activity, and music and lyrics for the much-loved song.

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, illus. by Anita Jeram

First published in the United Kingdom in 1994, this cherished tale now celebrates twenty years.

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

This 50th anniversary edition features a map of Harriet’s spy route and a section in which grown-ups, including many writers, share their feelings about the book.

James Herriot’s Treasury for Children by James Herriot, illus. by Ruth Brown and Peter Barrett

A Wynk, a Blynk and a Nod to Books about Autumn and Halloween
Where did the summer go? It’s hard to believe that we’re already thinking about Fall and Halloween. The crop of new books is simply “spooktacular,” and many of our old favorites are sure to make for ghoulish fun. So, enjoy! Happy Haunting ….. and Happy Reading!

At the Old Haunted House by Helen Ketteman, illus. by Nate Wragg

Ketteman, author of Heat Wave, one of our all-time favorites, gives us a Halloween rendition of the classic rhyme “Over in the Meadow.” From goblins to vampires to bats, the creatures increase in number from one to ten. This is a stand-out begging to be read aloud.

Dog and Bear: Tricks and Treats by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Dog and Bear are back, just in time for Halloween. They prepare costumes, receive trick-or-treaters, and go trick-or-treating themselves. Simple text and illustrations make for a fun book for beginning readers.

Fall Leaves by Loretta Holland, illus. by Elly MacKay

This poetic picture book captures both the art and science of the change in seasons. The ink and photography illustrations are visually appealing. This book can be used on a variety of levels. Instructions for making leaf prints are included.

The Ghosts Go Haunting by Helen Ketteman, illus. by Adam Record

A second book by Ketteman is worth noting. This time the rhythm is that of “The Ants Go Marching” and provides another fun read aloud.

Llama Llama Trick or Treat by Anna Dewdney

In this board book, Dewdney’s Llama Llama is excited over choosing a Halloween costume and going trick-or-treating.

Little Boo by Stephen Wunderli, illus. by Tim Zeltner

A tiny pumpkin seed wants to be scary but must wait until it grows into a pumpkin and Halloween arrives. […]

A Wynk, a Blynk and a Nod to Books about School
August is coming to an end, and with that comes the start of a new school year. For many children this can be an anxious time. We’ve included lots of books to hopefully make the transition a little easier and calm those first day jitters. And for the seasoned pro, we’ve included some school stories that are just for fun!

New Books about School

B. Bear and Lolly Off to School by A.A. Livingston, illus. by Joey Chou

Evidently Baby Bear and Goldilocks became best friends after their famous encounter because now they are embarking on another adventure, their first day of school together. Children should enjoy finding other fairy tale characters in the illustrations.

Chu’s First Day of School by Neil Gaiman, illus. by Adam Rex

In this sequel to the New York Times best-seller, Chu’s Day, the sneeze-prone little panda is nervous about his first day of school and worried that others won’t like him. Chu’s teacher is nice and the other animals at school are friendly, but too much chalk dust leads to an explosive end.

A Wynk, a Blynk and a Nod to Books about Summer Fun
Summer was always a lot of fun for us growing up, and it still is today. School’s out, the weather’s great, and opportunities abound for lots of outdoor activities: a trip to the pool or beach, going camping or hiking, or simply enjoying a summer picnic! Get your summer off to a great start with some great books that capture the essence of the season. Our suggestions of books, both new and old, will hopefully make you want to explore and enjoy summer all the more.

New Summer Books
ABC Oceans

Created by the American Museum of Natural History, this board book contains 26 animals from the sea. Beautiful color photographs illustrate each letter. Brief facts are included as well.

Camp Rex by Molly Idle

Cordelia and her troop of dino-scouts enjoy a camping trip in the great outdoors. This book features the same characters from Idle’s Tea Rex.

The Camping Trip by Catherine Hapka, illus. by Anne Kennedy

In this tenth book in the Pony Scouts series, friends Meg, Jill, and Annie are spending summer vacation with their ponies, and it is Meg’s first time camping. A great choice for early readers.

Cheers for a Dozen Ears: A Summer Crop of Counting by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky, illus. by Susan Swan

This is the second collaboration between author and illustrator in which they pair a season with an early learning concept, in this case counting. Their earlier work was entitled Pick a Circle, Gather Squares: A Fall Harvest of Shapes. The collage illustrations capture both the seasonal and counting concepts.

A Wynk, a Blynk and a Nod to Books about Baseball
With Great American Ballpark, home of the Cincinnati Reds, sitting practically in our backyard, paying tribute to books about America’s favorite pastime seems especially fitting for this time of year. Our bases are loaded with lots of good reads. No bloopers here, all are sure to be a home run! As always, we’ve included a few backdoor sliders at the end.
New Baseball Books
Ballpark by Eileen R. Meyer, illus. by Carlynn Whitt

Meyer describes a day spent at the ballpark by a grandfather and his grandson. Colorful illustrations and rhyming text bring the sights and sounds of the game to life

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The Bambino and Me by Zachary Hyman, illus. by Zachary Pullen

A nostalgic look at the greatest baseball player of all time, George Herman “Babe” Ruth, sets the stage for this engaging read. Ten year old George Henry Alexander is excited to be attending his first real baseball game and the opportunity to see his hero. Though related as a memoir, the story is entirely fictional. Actor Jason Alexander’s lively, fun-filled CD recording of the story is included.

Barbed Wire Baseball by Marissa Moss, illus. by Yuko Shimizu

This is the story of Kenichi Zenimura, who built a baseball legacy in the Japanese-American internment camps during World War II. He built a ball field, complete with a leveled, grassed-in diamond and bleachers, to raise the spirits and self-esteem of his fellow detainees. It is interesting to note that the illustrations in the book were made with Japanese calligraphy brush and ink.

Baseball Animals by Christopher Jordan Fenn

This fun and engaging book, an official MLB publication, introduces young readers to each team named after an animal. Children follow clues and guess […]

A Wynk, a Blynk, and a Nod to Books about Spring
Spring is right around the corner, and with the winter we’ve had, it can’t get here soon enough! We’re looking forward to those first signs of spring and all that comes with it, from planting the first seeds in the garden to listening to songbirds to celebrating April holidays. We’ve added lots of new books on these topics, and as always, have listed many of our old favorites. Enjoy……and think spring!

New Spring Books
Animals in Spring by Martha E. H. Rustad

This set of books by Rustad also includes People in Spring, Plants in Spring, and Weather in Spring. Aimed at early readers, the books include full color photographs, a glossary, and internet sites.

Biscuit in the Garden by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illus. by Pat. Schories

Biscuit, the puppy, explores all the wonderful things in the garden. This book is part of the I Can Read! series. The Biscuit books are exceptionally good at getting children to read, but they also include information on teaching adults how to read them to their children.

Chester’s Colorful Easter Eggs by Theresa Smythe

This simple Easter story provides an introduction to colors, as Chester the rabbit decorates and hides Easter eggs for his friends. The collage illustrations are quite appealing.

The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes, as Told to Jenifer by DuBose Heyward, illus. by Marjorie Flack

The 75th anniversary edition of this book has just been released. Originally published in 1939, this story remains a classic Easter tale. The Country Bunny’s twenty-one children help her to become an Easter Bunny. The author of this tale actually wrote the novel Porgy on which the Porgy and Bess musical is based.

A Wynk, a Blynk, and a Nod to Women’s History Month
Before 1970, women’s history was rarely the subject of serious consideration. However, two significant factors contributed to its emergence as a topic worthy of study. The women’s movement of the sixties caused women to examine their exclusion from traditional American history textbooks. Second, the study of history in general was being transformed, and women’s history was a part of this movement that ultimately transformed the study of history in the United States. History had traditionally meant political history – a study of the key political events and of the leaders, primarily men, who influenced them. However, by the 1970’s, social history began replacing the older style.

Women’s History Month in the United States began as a small-town school event, “Women’s History Week,” in Sonoma County, California in 1978. The week that was selected included March 8, International Women’s Day. In 1981, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah and Representative Barbara Mikulski of Maryland co-sponsored a joint Congressional resolution proclaiming a national Women’s History Week. In 1987, after much lobbying by the National Women’s History Project (NWHP), Congress expanded the celebration to a full month, and March was declared Women’s History Month. Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, U. S. Presidents have issued annual proclamations designating March as Women’s History Month.
The NWHP, founded in 1980, remains a national clearinghouse for multicultural women’s history information. Each year this organization selects a theme that highlights achievements by distinguished women in specific fields, from medicine and the environment to art and politics. The theme for 2014 is “Celebrating Women of Character, […]

A Wynk, a Blynk, and a Nod to African American History Books
African American History Month, or Black History Month, as it is often referred to, is observed every February in the United States. We thought it might be interesting to take a look at the history behind this annual celebration. Negro History Week was first conceived in 1925 by Harvard educated historian, Carter G. Woodson, who founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). The event was first celebrated during a week in February in 1926 that included the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two great Americans who played a prominent role in shaping black history. The response was overwhelming, and by 1950, Negro History Week had become a central part of African American life. Progress had also been made in bringing more Americans to embrace the celebration. In 1976, our nation’s bicentennial, the celebration was expanded to a full month. President Gerald Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” That year, fifty years after the first celebration, ASNLH held the first African American History Month. Since 1976, each American president has issued African American History Month proclamations, and Woodson’s association – now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History – continues to promote the study of African American history all year. With February approaching, we thought it fitting to take a look at some noteworthy new books on the topic. And, as always, we’ve included a list of old favorites, too good to miss.